Undrafted free agents or high school kids usually produce a highlight tape in hopes of landing with a team or getting that D-I scholarship. But, a tape to persuade a manager to believe in a guy already in the The Show?

Jayson Werth clearly is not the guy the Nationals thought they were getting.

Welcome to another tidbit from the world that is Jayson Werth. Seems that Werth thought he had earned more playing time in 2007 and he wanted Charlie Manuel to believe in him. So, Werth engaged in a little marketing. From the Washington Post:

He plunked down a highlight tape on Manuel’s desk. The footage, collected from his last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, was two years old because he had missed the entire 2006 season with a wrist injury. Werth believed he was still the player on film, drilling line drives and smashing home runs. He told Manuel to watch.

Charlie still has the tape that helped transform Werth’s career. We all know that Werth became THE Phillies RF during that magical 2008 October run. Followed it up with an All-Star nod the following year, thanks to Manuel.

Surely, Werth is not playing like the Werth on that tape, or the one we saw in Philly that helped him land $126 million. His .225 average and 14 HRs and 45 RBI have him on pace for his worst season since becoming a full time starter in Philly. To say this is not what the Nationals or their fans thought they were getting is an understatement of massive proportions.

Of Course, Werth could dig that tape out and play it on the scoreboard for the Nationals fans to prove he can still play. Actually, since they’ve gotten a full year until now, Werth might want to include a PowerPoint presentation this time around for all of the Nationals six season ticket holders.